Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Grace Time Pink&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Grace Time Pink,’ having a good uniform canopy of purple quill single flowers with a light green disc. The new variety has a medium vigor, free branching, uniform spreading habit and good foliage presentation.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/524,339, filed Nov. 20, 2003.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is ‘Grace Time Pink.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, andreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Grace Time Pink.’ ‘Grace Time Pink,’identified as 20911-0A, was discovered as a whole plant mutation grownin a controlled cultivated planting of the variety ‘Grace Time’(unpatented seedling). The new variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ has beenasexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex,United Kingdom and the distinguishing characteristics are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Grace Time Pink’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant variety havingpurple quill single flowers.

Comparison with Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ are similar tothe parent Grace Time’ in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-sidecomparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercialpractice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Grace Time Pink’compared to plants of the parent ‘Grace Time’ in the followingcharacteristics.

1. The new variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ produces purple quill singleflowers whereas the parent ‘Grace Time’ also produces purple quillsingle flowers.

2. Plants of the new variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ have smaller and shorterinflorescence than plants of the parent ‘Grace Time.’

3. Plants of the new variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ have a slower responsethan the plants of the parent ‘Grace Time.’

4. Plants of the new variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ have a shorter vigor thanthe plants of the parent ‘Grace Time.’

Comparison with Other Varieties

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ are dissimilarto the variety ‘Scott’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,155) in plant habitat andgrowth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex,United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the newChrysanthemum variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ differed from plants of the‘Scott’ variety in the following characteristics.

1. The new variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ produces purple quill singleflowers whereas ‘Scott’ produces purple spoon tip single flowers.

2. Plants of the new variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ have larger and tallerinflorescence than ‘Scott.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemumvariety ‘Grace Time Pink’ are shown in the accompanying digitalphotograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usuallimits of this kind of illustration. FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of thenew variety ‘Grace Time Pink’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in theillustration is 60 days from the commencement of Short Days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Grace TimePink’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, West Sussex,United Kingdom in the month of June. The cultivar has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in the environment such as temperature,length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. Thecommercial classification of the new variety is a pot Chrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperatureconditions averaging about 19° C. at night and about 17° C. to 24° C.during the day under light conditions of about 5,000 to 6,000 footcandles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such asone B9 treatment at about 2 gm per liter. To produce a commercialproduct the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. Thetypical container size for commercial growth is 1 liter. It has beenobserved that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with aresponse time of about 8 weeks. The new variety is suitable for growthin a temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

The new variety may be produced as a spray. The following description iswith respect to a plant produced as pot. In the description of this newChrysanthemum variety, color values have been taken from The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

PLANT

-   Plant type: Pot.-   Habit: Upright and free branching.-   Height (cm): 22.-   Width (cm): 32.-   Stem:    -   -   Length (cm).—5.5.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.8.        -   Texture.—slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—139C.-   Branching characteristics: upright and free branching.-   Length of lateral branches:    -   -   Length (cm).—14.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.6.        -   Texture.—slightly pubescent.-   Number of breaks from pinch: 5 to 7.-   Response time: 55 days.-   Vigor: Medium.-   Shelf life: 21 days.-   Life of blooms: 21 days.-   Disease (susceptibility or resistance): None observed to date.-   Pest (susceptibility or resistance): None observed to date.-   Drought or temperature resistance: None observed to date.-   Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/liter    B9 @ 2, 21 and 28 days after sticking of unrooted cuttings. The    plants were grown for 2 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours of    light) and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of    dark).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative Propagation Via Stem Cuttings.        -   Time to rooting.—14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.        -   Rooting habit.—after 7 days the first roots emerge and form            root primordia. In 14 Long Days a complete root system is            developed.

FOLIAGE

-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 8 to 12.-   Compound or single: Single.-   Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.    -   -   Shape of leaf.—Typically 5 lobed.        -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 4.5 Length (cm): 9.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Attachment.—Petioled.        -   Aspect.—Slightly Undulating.        -   Margin.—Palmately lobed.        -   Surface characteristics.—Top: Slightly Pubescent Bottom:            Pubescent.-   Petiole:    -   -   Color.—139B.        -   Length (cm).—1.3.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.2.-   Venation:    -   -   Color.—upper side: 138B underside: 138C.-   Color:    -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—near 137C; under side: near 138A.        -   Young leaf, upper side.—near 137A; under side: near 138A.

FLOWER

-   Flower appearance: Matte.-   Flower type: Single quill.-   Flower form: Slightly cupped.-   Flower shape: Circular.-   Flowering habit: Cyme.-   Number of blossoms per branch: 5.-   Typical and observed flowering season: January to December.-   Inflorescence form: Cyme.    -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—1.5.        -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—5.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Number.—18.        -   Color.—138A.        -   Length (cm).—0.7.        -   Width (cm).—0.2.        -   Texture/Appearance.—Pubescent.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length (cm).—13.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.5.        -   Angle from stem (degrees).—10.        -   Color.—138B.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly undulating.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—terminal (cm).—3; lateral (cm): 4.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.2.        -   Color.—138B.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly undulating.        -   Strength.—medium.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Form/Shape.—Straight and cylindrical.        -   Texture/Appearance.—Matte.        -   Number per flower.—40.        -   Length (cm).—2.5 Width (cm): 0.4.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Tapered.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Form/Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Texture/Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Number per flower.—192.        -   Length (cm).—0.5; Width (cm): 0.1.        -   Diameter of disc (cm).—1.2.-   Fragrance: none observed.-   Flower bud (at onset of color):    -   -   Length (cm).—1.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.7.        -   Form/shape.—Globular.-   General flower color:    -   -   1. Ray florets, upper side.—Immature: near 63A and 63D            Mature: near 63B and 65B Older/Fading: near 63C and 65C.        -   2. Ray florets, under side.—Immature: near 68B Mature: near            68C Older/Fading: near 68C.        -   3. Disc florets.—Immature: near 151A Mature: near 151 B            Older/Fading: near 151B.        -   4. Bud.—61B Flower progression with age: There is no change            with the flower form, but there is a slight color fading            with age.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Gynoecium present on ray and disc florets.    -   -   Pistil number on ray florets per individual flower.—40.        -   Pistil number on disc florets per individual flower.—90.        -   Stigma color.—154A.        -   Stigma shape.—Forked.        -   Style color.—154B.        -   Style length on Ray florets (cm).—0.3.        -   Style length on Disc florets (cm).—0.3.-   Androecium: None observed.-   Fruit and seeds: None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.